For the wine nerd on your list

You could give someone a bottle of wine for the holidays. But think bigger.

No, not a barrel. Give him a wine broker.

It's a relatively new idea around Chicago--it's bigger in California, naturally--but it has potential among a populace accustomed to chugging Two Buck Chuck.

"It's like a personal shopper," said Heather John, wine and spirits editor for Bon Appetit magazine. "They ask you about your lifestyle, what foods you eat, what your end goal is. It's a smart thing for people who are serious about wine and who don't have time to do all the research. It's a real wine geek present."

Chicago broker Robert Nueske, who works for Jakob Gerhardt USA, says a lot of people just don't know what's out there. He's here to serve.

"We work one on one with people, so we get to know each client individually and their tastes," he said. "We also taste all of the products that come through, so I know what the wine is all about."

He can answer questions or let an individual or corporate client know about new or boutique wines from small wineries, or suggest that right vintage for a special occasion. He also can help with creating a customized label for a client or, for really special occasions, bottles can be etched with personal designs.

Jakob Gerhardt is one of a couple of companies that have brokers in the Chicago area; Pieroth and Lionstone International are two others.

Cost depends on what you buy. Nueske (877-418-9390) says there's no charge for his services or advice; the wines he offers start at $16 a bottle and come in 12-bottle lots. Ed Jack, co-owner of Lionstone (847-247-8755), which works with wine clubs, says the cost depends on what the client wants.